Much of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon's childhood was spent at her family's Scottish home, Glamis Castle, near Dundee. After her marriage to the Duke of York in 1923, she and her husband divided their time between 145 Piccadilly when in London, Royal Lodge in the heart of Windsor Great Park, and Birkhall in Aberdeenshire (on the Balmoral Estate).

Following the accession of the Duke of York as King George VI in 1936, the King and Queen moved to the Sovereign's official residences - Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle - while also paying frequent visits to the private royal residences - Sandringham House in Norfolk and Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire. On the King's death in 1952 Queen Elizabeth, now the Queen Mother, returned to Royal Lodge and Birkhall. She purchased the Castle of Mey in Caithness as a private residence, and Clarence House became her London home.

Throughout her life the Queen Mother collected watercolours and drawings both of her official and her private residences. Some of these were commissioned while many others came to her as gifts from the artists, her family and friends.